Venice (musical)
| Venice | |
|---|---|
| Music | Matt Sax |
| Lyrics | Matt Sax and Eric Rosen |
| Book | Eric Rosen |
| Productions | 2010 Kansas City Rep 2010 Los Angeles 2013 The Public Theater, New York |
Venice is a musical collaboration between Matt Sax and Eric Rosen. The plot focuses on a dystopian near-future fictional city named Venice. The show opened at the Copaken Stage in Kansas City in 2010 as a co-production between Kansas City Rep and Center Theatre Group. Venice also ran at the Public Theater in New York from May 28 through June 30, 2013. The cast of Venice at The Public includes Uzo Aduba, Jennifer Damiano, Jonathan-David, Claybourne Elder, Leslie Odom, Jr., Victoria Platt, Angela Polk, Matt Sax, and Haaz Sleiman.
The Kansas City production received regional and national attention for its unique use of hip-hop and multimedia elements.Time Magazine called it "the next major American musical", citing its timely allusions to post-9/11 America and the election of President Barack Obama.
The city of Venice has been at war for a generation. Venice Monroe, who was named for the city, is sworn in as the new leader of the city, promising to bring change to the society. A symbolic wedding is planned between Venice and his childhood friend, Willow. Venice's half-brother, Markos, is a commander in the city's military. He plots to disrupt the wedding and keep the public in fear.
In many ways, the musical parallels Shakespeare's Othello. There are two men in this musical who are in love with the same woman; there are main characters who are Generals and military advisors. The men are power-hungry, driven to possess (be it a lover, a territory or a political seat) and that power becomes their undoing. In the end, it destroys all the players, an earmark of Shakespeare's tragedies.
20 years before the story begins, the government of the state of Venice is destroyed by a massive terrorist attack that kills tens of thousands. A military occupation divides the nation into a Safe Zone for the elites, and leaves the rest trapped in the ruins of the fallen city. The Clown MC, our narrator and guide, describes life under military occupation and introduces Venice Monroe, a charismatic leader with a plan to restore the nation's democracy. When a massive peace demonstration threatens to spin out of control, the city is stunned by the miraculous appearance of Willow Turner, daughter of the assassinated President, whose arrival signals the symbolic reunification of the people. The two heroes announce their intention to marry and lead the reunification effort together -- to the shock of her supposed fiancé, Theodore Westbrook, heir to the reins of the military occupation, the nation erupts into the first expression of hope and joy in 20 years (“Citizens of Venice”).
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